Welsh Labour says it will take steps to maintain the gender balance of politicians

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A SENIOR Labour councillor has accused his own party’s executive committee and the trade union Unite of selectively using all women candidate shortlists to help their own favourites get seats.

In a series of angry tweets, Bernie Attridge, the deputy leader of Flintshire County Council said:

“No confidence in Welsh Labour. I wonder why Welsh AMs don’t take on Unite? Might have something to do with the money they give them.”

“Executive controlled by the Unite gang masters! I just hope Delyn branches take them on.”

“Executive are worse than Freemasons getting ruled by Unite the union. I hope all Delyn branches go on strike.”

“Welsh Labour Executive: I hope Aberconwy will be an all-women shortlist as well! Guess what it’s boxed off for a Liberal defector.”

Labour’s Welsh Executive Council (WEC) is currently chaired by Andy Richards, who heads Unite in Wales.

Mr Attridge said: “I’m not the only member of the party to be unhappy about the way all women shortlists are being imposed selectively on local parties.

“The WEC has decided to impose an all women shortlist for the next Assembly election on Delyn.

“I know at least three men who would like a chance to put their names forward, but that hasn’t been allowed.

“It seems the favoured candidate is a woman official of Unite. Yet Aberconwy did not have an all women shortlist imposed, and the favourite seems to be a former Lib Dem male candidate who has come over to Labour.

“It seems the WEC and Unite are sorting seats out to suit them – and that’s totally unfair.”

A senior party source said: “Welsh Labour led the way on fair representation. Looking at new ways of doing that such as the arrangement between Caerphilly and Islwyn (which are expected to choose one male and one female candidate between them) shows that the party is listening and responding to feedback from the membership on the best ways of achieving a more representative democracy.

“That neither Plaid nor the Tories have ever had a woman MP is not just embarrassing for them politically, but the result of their indifference towards the very serious issue of fair representation.”

Unite Wales deputy secretary Gareth Jones said: “This is a decision of Welsh Labour and in line with Welsh Labour Party policy as agreed at the conference in March.”